Adjustable spread toilet seat hinge



July 6, 1937. v. w. CAMPBELL 2,086,211

ADJUSTABLE SPREAD TOILET SEAT HINGE Filed May 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

MJM

July 6, 1937. v. w. CAMPBELL l 2,086,211

ADJUSTABLE SPREAD TOILET SEAT HINGE I Fied Hayle, 1935 2 sheetssheet 2 INVENTOR,

Fffzafz Qin/Jail,

BY Mc? m ATTORNEY.

Patented July 6, 1937 ifi- AninsfrastE srnEnn 'roiEE'r sEA'r HINGE Application li/iay 16, 1935, Serial No. 21,847

3 Claims.

It is customary to mount toilet seats and toilet seat covers on toilet bowls by means of hinges which, in the more modern type of construction, are usually secured to the bowl by means of threaded members which pass through vertical apertures in the bowl. The distance apart of these threaded members in the assembled hinge and seat must correspond to the distance apart of the vertical apertures in which they are to be positioned- Inasmuch as bowls are sometimes built with one spacing between apertures and sometimes with another spacing it has been necessary heretofore either to attach the hinge to the seat on the job in the cheaper types or in the better quality of seats and hinges to have as many different sizes of hinges as there were different spacings likely to be encountered in different bowls. In the latter case if a plumber, in going out to complete such an installation, did not have with him the proper size of hinge, it would be necessary to send for it, which frequent- Vly meant sending to the factory. There are many other disadvantages, not necessary to mention in detail, that are associated with this multiplicity in hinge sizes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to produce a toilet seat hinge that can be used with toilet bowls having different spacings between the apertures for the hinge posts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge post and clamping member which are relatively adjustable and which at the same time are retained permanently in their assembled Vrelationship. Y

A still further object of the invention is to make such a toilet seat hinge by a method that is simple, inexpensive, and that can be carried out in the minimum time.

These and other objects of the invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art to which it appertains by Aa consideration of the following description of one embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a toilet seat hinge embodying the invention showing in association therewith, partly broken away, a toilet bowl, seat and cover;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the hinge posts of Fig. l interchanged in position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Eig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the hinge posts showing the securing bolt in section;

' Fig. 5 is a -greatly enlarged end elevation ofthe base portion of one of the hinge posts shown in i Y Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a rear view of a hinge post of a modied form.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the reference character H indicates a toilet bowl` usually made of porcelain and having a rearwardly extending shelf i2 in which there are positioned a pair of vertically disposed apertures i3. A toilet seat lli and a toilet seat cover i5 are hingedly connected to the bowl by means of hinge structure which will be described somewhat in` and another hinge leaf 2| toward the right. These two hinge leaves, 2t and 2i, have bearing sockets 22 therein in which the ends of the bearing pintle i9 are positioned. The distance ybetween the bearing portions of the two leaves for` the seat cover is somewhat less than the distance between the bearing portions of the two 'leaves for the seat so that there is a short space at each end of the pintle i9 between the leaf for the cover and the leaf for the seat. In the lefthand space the upper end of a hinge post 23 is Vpositioned and in the right-hand space there is the upper end of a similarhinge post ZLB. The upper ends of these hinge posts 23 and 2Q are provided with bearing apertures 28 through which the pintle I9 extends.

In hinges of the general type thus far described it has heretofore been the common practice for each of the hinge posts 23 and 24 to have rigidly secured thereto or constructed as an integral part thereof, as by making it as a casting, a downwardly extendingthreaded cylindrical portion. These threaded portions are positioned in the apertures I3 in the porcelain .and are secured therein. The distance between the hinge posts 23 and 24 after they are assembled with the seat and cover determines the distance apart of the apertures I3 with which.

the hinge can be assembled. For example,l if the tures 51/2 inches apart then thel parts can be readily assembled. However, if the hinge posts are 5% inches apart and it is found that the apertures are 7 1/2 inches apart then theseat yand hinge seat I also has a hinge leaf 26 toward the left 5o lhinge posts are i1/inches apart Vand the apercannot be assembled on the bowl and it is necessary to use a different hinge or at least the hinge leaves must be secured to the seat and cover at diiferent positions and a different pintle is required.

The brief description of prior practice set forth in the preceding paragraph will render the purpose and advantages of the improved construction now to be described in detail much clearer and more readily understood. Each of the hinge posts 23 and 2li is provided with a base, 25 and 26 respectively, of elongated form, the longer dimension being parallel to the pintle i9. Extending upwardly from the base 25 of the post 23 is an arm 27 which has therein a bearing 28 in which is supported that portion of the pintle I9 which is between the hinge leaf E6 and the hinge leaf 29. It is to be noted that the Yarm 2 is not centrally disposed with respect to the base 25, as seen in Fig. 1, but is positioned nearer the right-hand end. The under side of the base 25 is provided with a slot 29 which is disposed longitudinally of the base or in other words so as to be parallel with the pintle i9. This slot preferably extends entirely through the base from one side to the other. It will be seen that the elongation of the base in the same direction as the slot permits' the use of a longer slot than would otherwise be the case. The side Walls of the slot 29 slope upwardly and outwardly (see Fig. 3) so as to give the slot a V-shaped section. 'Ihe post 24 has a similar upwardly extending arm 30 with a bearing 28 but in this case the arm is disposed to the left of the center of the base instead of to the right. The base 26 also has a V-slot 29 in the under side thereof.

Bolts 3| are provided for securing the hinge posts to the toilet bowl. These bolts are provided with heads 32 which are constructed in the rst place as short cylindrical portions of a length approximately equal to the depth of the slots 29 (see Fig. 1). Opposite sides of the head are then cut at an angle to provide a V-shaped head to t the slot 29 (see Fig. 3). After one of the bolts 3| has been assembled with its post 23 or 24, by having its head inserted in the slot 29, the four corners of the slot are then peened over as shown at 33 in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the bolt and post are thereafter always together although the head of the bolt can be moved along the slot from one end to the other. It is of course preferable to complete this operation of assembling the hinge posts and the bolts prior to the assembling of the hinge posts with the pintle and hinge leaves. The final assembling operation is to insert the bolts 3| into the apertures I3 and to clamp them iirrnly in place by means of nuts 34. Suitable metal washers 35 and gaskets 39 may be employed in the manner shown to distribute the pressure uniformly against the porcelain.

The bolts 3| are shown in full lines in Fig. 1 as being positioned in the apertures I3 and at the extreme inner ends of the slots 29, that is, as close together as possible. In case the porcelain is provided with apertures a greater distance apart the head 32 of the bolt 3| is slid along in the slot 29 in the direction indicated by the arrows A until the spacing between the bolts is the same as the distance between the apertures. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 indicate such a greater spacing, the bolts being shown at the extreme opposite end of the slot from the full-line position. It has been found quite practicable to make each bolt adjustable a total distance of one inch so that the adjustment of the two bolts taken together provides for a range of aperture spacings in the bowl of two inches.

Fig. 2 indicates how the construction of the hinge posts already described is capable of providing for a still further range in adjustment. It will be noted that the hinge posts 23 and 24| have been interchanged so that the post 23 is now at the right and the post 2t at the left. I t is also to be noted that the upwardly extending arm 2 is, in Fig. 1, approximately above the aperture I3 and the bolt 3| is positioned at the end of the slot 29 nearest to the right. In Fig. 2 the arm 30 is approximately above the same aperture I3 but in this case the bolt 3| is positioned at the extreme left-hand end of the slot 2S. The relationships respecting the right-hand hinge post are also similarly changed. As a result, with the same hinge as that shown in Fig. 1 there may be used bowls with apertures ranging from the spacing shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the spacing shown in dotted lines or approximately two inches less by merely sliding the bolts in the slots in the direction of the arrows B. It is to be understood that the use of speciiic gures is illustrative only and not by Way of limitation.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modied form of hinge post di which is provided with a bearing socket 42 which unlike the bearings in the hinge posts 23 and 29 does not extend all the way through. With such a pair of hinge posts the hinge leaves of -both the seat and the cover have bearing apertures extending clear through and they are both mounted on the pintle i9 inside of the hinge posts 4| which are positioned at the end. of the pintle.

The type of construction which has been described as embodying the invention has certain advantages to which attention should be specifically directed. The V-shaped slot, as distinguished from a T-slot for example, is shallow and does not require the base 25 (or 26) to be as thick as would be required by a T-slot. The V-slot also permits a closure thereof as indicated at 33 much more readily than would a T-slot and perhaps more readily than any other form of slot which could be chosen. This type of closure for the slot, a peening over of the corners, also permits the bolt itself a maximum range of adjustment as contrasted with any form of slot whatever which.

is completely closed at the end, as by not being milled clear through. A slot of V-shape as shown in the drawings is also readily formed on a milling machine. The standard practice in forming a T-slot on a milling machine, for example, would require 3 distinct operations of amilling cutter as against one operation for the V-slot.

The oset feature of the hinge arm with respect to the base of the hinge post is again mentioned because the same size of the base or rather the same dimension in the elongated direction permits twice the possible range of variation in the aperture spacings, or stated conversely, for the same range in adjustment the base need be made only a little more than twice as large as would be required if the hinge arm were positioned centrally with respect to the hinge post.

It is to be understood that the above description of specific details is for'purposes of illustration only and various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable spread toilet seat hinge, 9.375

hinge post having a base adapted to rest on a toilet bowl, means positioned on the upper portion of said base for hingedly connecting it with a toilet seat, said base having a V-slot in the under side thereof, and a clamping member having a V-shaped portion adjustably positioned in said slot, the four corners of said V-slot being bent inwardly to retain the clamping member permanently within said slot.

2. An adjustable spread toilet seat hinge for interchangeable mounting on dierent toilet bowls each having a pair of vertically disposed apertures spaced a dilerent distance apart comprising a pair of hinge posts, each post having a base and an upper portion, said upper portion having means for pivotally supporting a toilet seat for movement around an axis extending from one post to the other, hinge means carried by the toilet seat and pivotally supported by said upper portions, the under side of each base being provided with a slot extending parallel to the axis of the pivotal movement, a pair of threaded members having heads for engagement With said respective slots for securing said hinge posts by means of said apertures to a toilet bowl in any adjusted position throughout the length of said slots to provide an adjustment of the spacing between said members, each of said upper portions being offset with respect to its respective base in a direction parallel to the axis of pivotal movement, the direction of said oiiset being in opposite directions in the two posts of said pair whereby the interchanging of said posts provides another adjustment of the spacing of said threaded members supplementary to and in addition to said rst-named adjustment.

3. An adjustable spread toilet seat hinge for interchangeable mounting on different toilet bowls each having a pair of vertically disposed apertures spaced a diierent distance apart comprising a pair of hinge posts, each post having a base and an upper portion, said upper portion having means for pivotally supporting a toilet seat for movement around an axis extending from one post to the other, hinge meansV carried by the toilet seat and pivotally supported by said upper portions, the under side of each base being'provided with a V-shaped slot extending parallel to the axis of the pivotal movement, a pair of threaded members having V-shaped heads for engagement with said respective slots for securing said hinge posts by means of said apertures to a toilet bowl in any adjusted' position throughout the length of said slots to provide an adjustment of the spacing between said members, each of said upper portions being offset with respect to its respective base in a direction parallel to the axis of pivotal movement, the direction of said offset being in opposite directions in the two posts of said pair whereby the interchanging of said posts provides another adjustment of the spacing of said threaded members supplementary to and in addition to said first-named adjustment, the four corners of each of said V-shaped slots being peened over to provide stops at each end of the slots.

VERNON W. CAMPBELL. 

